A House of Commons Justice Committee enquiry into the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has published its findings in a new report this week.

Professor Jacqueline Hodgson, Director of the Criminal Justice Centre in the School of Law, University of Warwick, was invited to give oral evidence to the Select Committee in January 2015 and in the new report the Committee has endorsed her calls for the CCRC to adopt a more robust approach in its referrals to the Court of Appeal.

Professor Hodgson’s earlier research into the impact of legal representation on applications to the CCRC was also cited with approval, in order to demonstrate the value of legal assistance to those applying to have their cases investigated by the CCRC.

Professor Hodgson praised the majority of the CCRC’s work, but noted the lack of consistency across all case review managers and Commissioners, which the Committee urged the CCRC to address. In particular, she noted that some Commissioner’s were too deferential to the CCRC and feared having the case turned down. This is too stringent a test, when all that is required is a real possibility that the conviction will be overturned.

To contact Professor Hodgson, email Jackie.Hodgson@warwick.ac.uk or alternatively contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Senior Press and Communications Manager, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk, 02476 150868, 07824 540863.

Further Information

Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Senior Press and Communications Manager, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk, 02476 150868, 07824 540863.